Understanding and Addressing Long-Stay Dogs: Insights from Austin Pets Alive!

Written by Jess Borda:

Jess Borda has dedicated 12 years as a volunteer at Austin Pets Alive!. She works as a professional stage manager but looked to volunteering as a means to get involved and meet people when she first moved to Austin. Her experience with the organization began as a dog walker, an original member of the Dog Leadership team, and then established the role of Dog Walking Volunteer Lead. She began tracking data and has been an integral part of how our organization can look deeper into how we can better serve pets.

As a leader in the No-Kill movement, Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is committed to meeting the unique needs of every dog in its care, regardless of whether they stay for 60 days or 2,000 days. But why do some dogs remain in shelters for such extended periods? What can we learn about placement, care, and fostering to better serve these animals?

In the sheltering industry, both municipal and nonprofit shelters typically use 60 days as the threshold to classify a dog as a "long stay." This standard is often driven by space limitations in municipal shelters that need to accommodate their communities' needs. However, APA! operates with a different mission: to rescue animals from euthanasia lists and provide them the time and resources necessary for rehabilitation.

For APA!, a 60-day standard does not account for the unique needs of its population. Many dogs enter the shelter requiring extended behavioral support, medical treatment, or time to heal and decompress. For instance, puppies born to pregnant dogs in APA!'s care could be classified as "long stay" before they are even old enough for adoption. To better reflect its mission of rehabilitation, APA! considers dogs long-stay after 300 days.

Data is essential for identifying trends and addressing the needs of long-stay dogs. By analyzing patterns, APA! can ask critical questions:

• Why do some dogs stay for 300 days or more?
• Are dogs with medical issues less likely to be adopted before 60 days?
• What behavioral or medical characteristics in the first 30 days indicate a need for additional resources?

By leveraging data, APA! can prevent dogs from reaching the 300-day mark and focus resources where they are most needed.

Historical data has revealed a noteworthy trend: many of APA!'s longest-stay residents are adopted or placed in foster homes in January. To capitalize on this trend, APA! launched the "New Year, Same Pets" campaign, designed to highlight the stories of these dogs and give them the extra visibility they need to find homes.

APA!'s approach to long-stay dogs underscores the importance of individualized care, rehabilitation, and data-driven decision-making. By redefining what it means to be a long-stay dog and tailoring strategies accordingly, APA! continues to lead the way in saving lives and providing every animal with a chance to find their adoptive home.